Haiti

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have studied the report of the United Nations Population Fund on Haiti; and whether they consider that the international ban on foreign aid imposed in 2000 is still appropriate when 73 per cent of the population are judged to be in extreme poverty.

Baroness Amos: Her Majesty's Government are aware of the UNFPA report on Haiti of December 2001. We remain concerned at the continuing political problems in Haiti and the effects on the poor.
	We are committed to working with our EU partners in efforts to resolve the political impasse.
	We have offered 15,000 dollars to the re-establishment of the OAS mission which is seeking to broker a compromise between the government and the opposition, and are willing to continue to work through the OAS to this end.

Iraq

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are seeking concerted international pressure on Iraq to secure the release of 600 persons illegally removed from Kuwait and the exchange of any prisoners of war remaining from the Iraq-Iran war.

Baroness Amos: The UK continues to take an active role in the Tripartite Commission to establish the whereabouts of the 605 Kuwaiti and other nationals still missing since the occupation of Kuwait. Despite international efforts to urge Iraq to recognise the humanitarian nature of this issue, the Government of Iraq still refuse to co-operate with the process. They have so far provided information sufficient to close only three Kuwaiti missing files.
	Iran and Iraq regularly exchange the bodies of combatants killed in the Iran-Iraq war, as well as remaining prisoners of war.

International Criminal Court: US Reservations

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy towards current American proposals in a draft resolution for the United Nations Security Council that United States soldiers and civilians, when deployed overseas on United Nations peacekeeping missions, should be exempt from the jurisdiction of the new International Criminal court.

Baroness Amos: The Government remains committed to an effective International Criminal Court. They are at the same time anxious not to jeopardise the effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.
	We understand, but do not share, US reservations about the ICC and are working hard with it and other members of the Security Council to achieve an acceptable solution.

Palestinian Authority: Provision of Land Rovers

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Land Rovers were given to the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of Yasser Arafat during the past five years; how many of these vehicles still exist; what representations were made to those responsible for any damage to them; and what was the cost of these Land Rovers for the Government.

Baroness Amos: In 1995 and 1996, as part of a wider programme of support to the Palestinian Police Force, we provided 25 Land Rovers and 25 Ford transit vehicles. Fourteen of the 50 vehicles have been destroyed as a result of Israeli military action in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Others have been damaged. HM Ambassador in Tel Aviv wrote to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing our concerns.

Afghanistan

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evaluation they and their allies are making of the financial and human resources necessary to equip, train and prepare an adequate system of justice for Afghanistan; and what steps they are taking to ensure that these resources are provided.

Baroness Amos: The Government recognise that building an efficient and properly accountable security sector is essential for stability and order in Afghanistan. The justice system is central to a reformed security sector. The Government of Italy are leading on this sector in consultation with the UN. The UK has earmarked up to £1 million towards the development of an appropriate institutional framework and strategy. We continue to urge others to make contributions to this and other security sector initiatives.

Visits by Foreign Heads of State

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With regard to visits to the United Kingdom by foreign heads of state, what are the differences in the definitions of working visits, private visits and state visits.

Baroness Amos: Private visits and working visits take place at the initiative of the visitor. The arrangements are usually made by their London embassy or high commission. Programmes for working visits, as the name suggests, normally contain a working element, often a meeting with a senior government Minister. Private visits do not.
	State visits take place at the personal invitation of The Queen. The arrangements are made by Buckingham Palace, with support from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the relevant London embassy or high commission. Normally two such invitations are issued each year; but because of Her Majesty's busy Golden Jubilee commitments, no state visits were planned for 2002.
	Heads of state can also visit this country as guests of Her Majesty's Government. Arrangements for guest of government visits are made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Programmes normally include a number of working elements, including meetings with government Ministers, and government-hosted hospitality.

China: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Mr MacShane on 17 June (HC Deb, 8W), what were "the standard lines" along which Li Ruihan, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, replied to the Lord Chancellor when the Lord Chancellor raised a range of human rights issues at a recent meeting.

Baroness Amos: Li Ruihan replied that remarkable changes had taken place in Tibet and that Tibetans were now much better off than before.

Special Voucher Holders Accepted for Settlement in UK

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applications have been made for special vouchers for British overseas citizen passport holders and their dependants in each of the past five years; and how many applications have been granted.

Lord Filkin: The information available relates to heads of household with a special voucher accepted for settlement on arrival to the United Kingdom, 1996 to 2000, the latest period available. Their dependants are required to apply for entry clearance in the normal way and are not identifiable separately in our statistics. The available information is given in the table below.
	
		Special voucher holders accepted for settlement on arrival, 1996–2000(1) (2)
		
			 United Kingdon Number of Persons 
			 1996 300 
			 1997 220 
			 1998 170 
			 1999 220 
			 2000 160 
		
	
	(1) Figures rounded to the nearest 10
	(2) Excludes Dependants

Asylum Applications

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to Clause 56 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, what proportion of those currently held in immigration detention centres are awaiting (a) an initial decision on their application for refugee status or (b) the outcome of an appeal to the Immigration Appeals Authority.

Lord Filkin: The latest available data show that at 30 March 2002, 1,160 detainees (rounded to the nearest five) were held in immigration removal centres. Of these, 1,000 (86 per cent) had at some stage claimed asylum.
	I regret that the information requested regarding the stage of initial decisions and appeals is not available and could be obtained only by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	Information on Immigration Act detainees as at 29 June will be published on 30 August
	on the Home Office Research Development
	and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Asylum Applications

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applications for refugee status or exceptional leave to remain were outstanding for more than 12 months at the most recent date.

Lord Filkin: As at the end of March 2002 (the latest date for which figures are available) the number of asylum applications outstanding for more than 12 months is estimated to be 16,100. This includes some cases which are currently in action and compares with 23,000 such applications as at the end of March 2001.

European Arrest Warrant

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what manner and on what date or dates Parliament gave its consent to the European arrest warrant adopted at the Justice and Home Affairs Council.

Lord Filkin: The framework decision on the European Arrest Warrant was subject to the usual parliamentary scrutiny process. The House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee cleared the document from scrutiny on 12 December 2001. The House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union cleared the document from scrutiny on 23 April 2002. The European arrest warrant will come into operation only if the Bill to give effect to it is approved by this Parliament.

Court Buildings

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer on 18 June (WA72), what is their estimate of the public expenditure needed to create a supreme court building, whether by renovating an existing building, such as Somerset House, or by erecting a new building.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Since the Government have not yet been persuaded of the case for creating a new supreme court, no estimate of the potential cost of providing a building, whether the building was newly built, or a refurbished or existing property, or a leased property, to accommodate such an institution has been made.
	An estimate of the potential cost of a new building for the Appellate Committee would require a detailed investigation of the requirements, but it is clear that a new building, of high architectural merit, in the heart of London, would be very costly. The Government's priority has to be the modernisation of the criminal, civil and family courts to improve the delivery of court services across the country as a whole.

Advance Directives

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish practical guidance about the making of advance directives on the provision and withdrawal of medical treatment and the legal and ethical significance of such directives.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: On 10 April 2002 the Government published a consultation document Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty Deciding for Themselves. This seeks views on a series of leaflets which provide help and guidance for adults who due to mental incapacity need support to make decisions and also for those involved in caring for them. The leaflets give information on a range of topics involving decision-making. These include an explanation of the current legal position with regard to the making of advance directives which can be used to request or refuse medical treatment. Responses to the consultation document are sought by 9 July 2002 and we plan to publish the final leaflets later this year.

Birth Rate

Lord McColl of Dulwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the statement made by Ms Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the European Union, that "Europe needs a higher birth rate if it is to avoid economic and social problems"; and, if so, whether this is consistent with their current policy on measures likley to reduce the birth rate.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply:
	Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, dated 2 July 2002.
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning whether Her Majesty's Government agree with the statement made by Ms Anna Diamantopoulou Commissioner for Social Affairs of the European Union, that "Europe needs a higher birth rate if it is to avoid economic and social problems"; and if so, whether this is consistent with their current policy on measures likely to reduce the birth rate. [HL4743]
	The UK policy on population was presented to the UN Conference on Population in Mexico in 1984 and Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. The following statement was presented and remains the official UK policy.
	'The United Kingdom government does not pursue a population policy in the sense of actively trying to influence the overall size of the population, its age-structure, or the components of change except in the field of immigration. Nor has it expressed a view about the size of population, or the age-structure, that would be desirable for the United Kingdom. Its primary concern is for the well-being of the population, although it continually monitors demographic trends and developments. The current level of births has not been the cause of general anxiety. The prevailing view is that decisions about fertility and childbearing are for people themselves to make, but that it is proper for government to provide individuals with the information and the means necessary to make their decisions effective. To this end, the government provides assistance with family planning as part of the National Health Service. The 'ageing' of the population does raise social and economic issues. However, it is believed that these will prove manageable; and also, to a degree, that society will adapt'.
	Population matters are taken into account in formulating economic and social policy. Many aspects of economic and social policy will, of course, influence population change'.

Business Taxation: EU Code of Conduct

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 13 June (WA44), whether they are satisfied that Clause 88 in the Finance Bill and the rules affecting controlled foreign companies are legal under European Union law or Article 14 of the European convention on Human Rights; and, if so, why.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government are satisfied that Clause 88 in the Finance Bill is not incompatible with the Human Right Convention or EU law generally. The Government do not believe the reserve powers provided by the clause breach any of the articles of the Human Rights Convention or any aspect of EU law.

Taxation of Savings

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 13 June (WA45-46), whether they intend to execute the European Union tax package if other countries, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States, have not adopted strictly similar regimes by 31 December 2002.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Adoption of the tax package by ECOFIN is dependent on sufficient reassurances being obtained from the United States of America, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino that they will adopt equivalent measures to those which member states propose on the taxation of savings.

Taxation of Savings

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 13 June (WA45-46), whether the City of London revealed in its discussions with them that it would have preferred to continue without either a witholding tax or an exchange of information; and if so, what they mean by their statement that the City "indicated clearly that an approach based on exchange of information rather than a witholding tax was the right way to proceed."

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government support the principle agreed by the Helsinki European Council on 10 to 11 December 1999 that all citizens resident in a member state of the European Union should pay tax due to all their savings income. Tax evasion puts an unfair burden on honest taxpayers. And the development and liberalisation of financial markets cannot deliver all their benefits if savers' decisions are affected by the possibility of evading tax, instead of being taken in the light of a comparison between investment alternatives based on their intrinsice merits.
	It was against this background that discussions took place with interests in the City of London. The discussions showed clear support for the Government's initiative in proposing automatic exchange of information on savings income to combat tax evasion.

Taxation of Savings

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 13 June (WA45), whether they propose to implement Clause 88 of the Finance Bill if the Parliaments in Jersey or Guernsey do not accept the European Union tax package, if so, how they would reconcile that with the statement made by the Prime Minister in Jersey on 14 June 2001, that "Jersey has its own rights in this situation and we will, of course, protect them. We are not trying to affect tax rates."

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Clause 88 concerns the UK tax liability of UK residents companies. It gives the UK the reserve power to introduce regulations in the UK to protect the UK tax base. The Government hope that it will not be necessary to exercise the reserve power. If in the future the Government felt that it was necessary to exercise the power, they would explain the reasons for reaching that decision, and the regulations would be subject to parliamentary approval under the affirmative resolution procedure. The clause does not affect the constitutional arrangements with the Channel Islands.
	The tax package concerns the exchange of information in respect of savings income and the abolition of harmful tax measures.

Consolidated Fund Appropriation (No. 2) Bill: Human Rights Act Statement

Lord Patel of Blackburn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a statement has been made under the Human Rights Act 1998 in connection with the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No. 2) Bill.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I have made a statement under Section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 that, in my view, the provisions of the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No. 2) Bill are compatible with the convention rights. A copy of the statement has been placed in the Library of the House.

Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks

Lord Vivian: asked her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the total number of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks purchased for the British Army; what date the total number will be in service; and how many are being manufactured for other countries.

Lord Bach: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave him on 21 March 2002, (WA 167). The total number of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks procured for the British Army is 386. The final delivery took place in April 2002.
	A quantity of 38 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks were exported to a customer in the Middle East during the mid to late 1990s.

"Breakfast with Frost": Mr. Hain's Remarks

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the remark of the Minister for Europe, Peter Hain, during his appearance on BBC1's "Breakfast with Frost" on 23 June that "We have undoubtedly suffered from a lack of trust from the average voter".

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Mr Hain was noting opinion polls over the last few months, though he went on to say that the Government had an excellent record on the economy and investment in public services which were the key issues for voters. The most recent polls in the Guardian and Telegraph show that the Government's standing has not been affected by media attacks.

Gibralter Airport

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any arrangements have been made with Spain to unblock the progress of European Community aviation measures in respect of Gibralter Airport.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have agreed a procedure with Spain and the Commission allowing aviation measures to be unblocked without prejudicing any party's position on sovereignty or affecting day-to-day operations at Gibralter airport. When such a measure is brought forward, the Commission will judge whether or not it places obligations on airports. If so, the Council and Commission will agree to the insertion of the clauses suspending application until the implementation of the 1987 Joint Declaration of the UK and Spain on Gibralter airport, which have featured in previous measures. If not, the text will not be amended. The Transport Council agreed Common Positions on the first measure subject to this arrangement, relating to occurrence reporting and aviation statistics, on 17 June.
	We are confident that suspension will have no material impact on the operation of Gibralter airport. We will continue to work with the Government of Gibralter and the authorities at Gibralter airport to ensure that, wherever necessry, equivalent measures are implemented on a national basis.
	The Government believe that this is the best way forward until a long-term solution is found. We have always made it clear that we want Gibralter to enjoy the full benefits of EC aviation measures, as is its right. But, since the 11 September atrocities in particular, it is essential for British and other European air travellers, and the companies concerned, that EC measures to impove the functioning of the aviation sector, and especially to enhance aviation security, are taken forward quickly and effectivley. It would be intolerable if all air travellers were denied the benefit of such measures because of delay caused by disagreement between the UK and Spain over Gibralter, and the refusal of the Government of Gibralter to join discussions to resolve such problems under the Brussels process.

Foot and Mouth Inquiries: Recording of Views

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the meetings of the Lessons Learned Inquiry and the Royal Society Inquiry into foot and mouth disease are fully minuted by qualified stenographers; and whether the resultant transcripts are made available to the witnesses concerned.

Lord Whitty: As indicated in its procedures for inquiry meetings in London, published on its website, the Lessons Learned Inquiry is recording views in writing, though not necessarily verbatim. The procedures make clear that notes of the meetings will be sent to the individual(s) or organisation concerned to ensure the factual accuracy of the recorded views.
	Records have been taken of the main points raised during formal evidence sessions of the Royal Society Inquiry into infectious diseases in livestock, and the witnesses have been given the opportunity to comment on these in draft.

Foot and Mouth Disease: National Audit Office Report

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to the National Audit Office's report The 2001 Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.

Lord Whitty: The Public Accounts Committee hearing on the report is scheduled for 3 July 2002. Following publication of the Public Accounts Committee Report, the Government response will be made through the Treasury Minute procedure.

Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Education

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for Education and Skills will sponsor research to establish minimum standards of provision for the education of children with autism spectrum disorders, and
	How schools are monitored in relation to their work with children with autism spectrum disorders, and
	What is their policy on the role of autism-specific special schools in providing advice and support to mainstream schools educating children with autism.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Schools and local education authorities have duties to identify and make provision for the learning difficulties of children with special educational needs, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, and to give them access to a broad curriculum suitable to their needs. The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice gives statutory guidance on how to achieve this. The Department for Education and Skills' Autism Working Group will shortly be publishing guidance setting out the key principles underpinning proper provision for children with autistic spectrum disorders and pointers to good practice. This guidance takes into account the work of the West Midlands SEN Regional Partnership, which has been focusing on autism provision, and the National Autistic Society's Accreditation Programme. The working group intends to monitor the response to its guidance.
	Ofsted has a regular cycle of inspection of maintained schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools which cater wholly or mainly for children with SEN, including schools which make provision for children with autistic spectrum disorders. In determining their judgments, Ofsted inspectors have to consider the extent to which pupils with SEN are making progress and how well the teaching meets pupils' diverse needs. Ofsted will also be monitoring the implementation of the revised SEN Code of Practice and the new Inclusion framework. Special schools, including autism-specific special schools, have a vital role to play in the new arrangements through using their expertise to help mainstream schools include children with SEN. I have established a working group on the role special schools which will look at how to develop this aspect of special schools' work.

Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Education

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children with autism spectrum disorders were subject to (a) permanent exclusion from school; and (b) fixed term exclusion from school, in the academic year 2000–2001.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The department does not collect data on exclusions by specific type of special educational need.

Gibraltar

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Prime Minister will next visit Gibraltar.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prime Minister has no plans to do so.

Gibraltar

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to answer Lord Patten's Question for Written Answer on the timing of the next visit by the Prime Minister to Gibraltar tabled on 29th May (HL4605) before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I have answered the Noble Lord's question today. I very much regret the delay.

Northern Ireland Juvenile Justice Centres

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans exist in Northern Ireland concerning the future of Lisnevin and other youth justice centres.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: There are two Juvenile Justice Centres in Northern Ireland. One is Lisnevin Juvenile Justice Centre in Millisle, Co Down, and the other is Rathgael Juvenile Justice Centre in Bangor, Co Down.
	In November 2000, following public consultation, Adam Ingram, the then Northern Ireland Minister of State, made a commitment to Parliament to deliver a purpose designed Juvenile Justice Centre for Northern Ireland at Rathgael in Bangor. His statement went to say that while the new centre was being built, young people already in the system would be transferred to the Rathgael campus.
	Since then a phased development programme has commenced. The first phase involves upgrading security and refurbishing the existing accommodation on the Rathgael site to facilitate the transfer of young people from Lisnevin. Phase 1 of the programme is scheduled for completion by late 2002. On completion, Lisnevin will close and Rathgael will function as the single Juvenile Justice Centre for Northern Ireland and will operate until the new purpose-designed centre is constructed and commissioned.
	The second phase relates to provision of the new, purpose-designed centre, to be located on available land at Rathgael. When fully commissioned, the new centre will replace the phase 1 facility. Planning the Phase 2 project is at an early stage. Phase 2 is estimated to take about four years to complete.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which of the policies of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission they support.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent public body and as such is responsible for the formulation of its own policy. It is not for Government to agree or disagree with its policies.

Official Histories

Lord Evans of Watford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further official histories are planned.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government have appointed Professor Rodney Lowe of Bristol University as the official historian to write the official history of the Civil Service since Fulton. The Government have also agreed to a list of topics for future official histories, as follows:
	Privatisation
	The Criminal Justice System
	Chevaline
	Devolution
	Policy towards the Former Yugoslavia
	The D Notice System
	A Biography of Desmond Morton

Minister without Portfolio: Role

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people are employed in the office of the Minister without Portfolio and Party Chair, including the number of special advisers; and what is the annual cost, and
	What are the Ministerial duties undertaken by the right honourable Charles Clarke MP in his role as Minister without Portfolio, as opposed to those in his role as Party Chair.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: As Minister without Portfolio, the right honourable Charles Clarke MP is a member of the Cabinet and 14 Cabinet Committees. In his Government role he is supported by a part-time private secretary. The Government do not provide any further staffing support for the Minister without Portfolio. The salaries of individual civil servants are not disclosed in order to protect their privacy in line with Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

M1 and M6 Motorways: Lighting

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures are being taken to ensure full overhead lighting on the M1 and M6 motorways.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews, to write to the noble Lord.

"Blue Skies Thinking"

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will define what they mean by the term "Blue Skies Thinking" when asking advisers, paid or unpaid, to carry out this task.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: "Blue-skies thinking" is a term often used for strategic thinking which starts from first principles, takes an independent approach, and results in new ideas.

A2 Road Information

Lord Higgins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 18 June (WA83-84) regarding the blockage of the A2 road only answered one of the four points raised; and whether they will now reply to the other three.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The section of the A2 inside London forms part of the Greater London Authority Road Network (GLRN)—now known as the Transport for London Road Network—and is the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). The road has been closed at Blackheath since Sunday 7 April. Further information concerning the reopening of the road should be obtained from:
	Peter Brown
	Assistant Director Street Management Services
	TfL Street Management
	Windsor House
	42-50 Victoria Street
	London SW1H 0TL
	The Government have not had detailed discussions with the relevant local authorities about this matter.
	The Highways Agency manages the trunk roads and motorways in England. The GLRN was defined by powers contained in section 14A of the Highways Act 1980 (inserted by section 260 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999). Roads designated as part of the GLRN under this power thereby ceased to be trunk roads. The Government have no plans to resume responsibility for these roads.

Royal Mail Deregulation: Traffic Congestion

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimates have been made of the additional traffic congestion that will be caused by busy streets by additional vehicles involved in the deregulation of the Royal Mail.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: There is no official estimate of the additional congestion cost caused by deregulation of Royal Mail. However, a study of the costs of road and rail transport, published in August 2001, was carried out by the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds on behalf of the department. This showed that the congestion costs of an additional vehicle varied according to location and vehicle type.
	For Light Goods Vehicles, those most likely to be used by Royal Mail, the typical figures in 2001 prices were:
	
		
			 Area Type Congestion Cost (pence/vehicle kilometre) 
			 Central London 120 
			 Inner London 75 
			 Outer London 35 
			 Central Conurbation 55 
			 Outer Conurbation 20

Brixham Marina Wave Screen

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What health and safety inspections, independent of the operator, have been conducted by which authorities or agencies into the construction and maintenance of the wave screen at Brixham marina, operated and managed by Marina Developments Ltd.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: I asked my officials to consult Torbay Council. They inform me that no health and safety inspections, independent of Marina Development Ltd, have been conducted into the construction or maintenance of the wave screen at Brixham Marina.

Brixham, Torquay and Queen Anne's Battery Marinas

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What health and safety inspections, independent of the operator, have been conducted by which authorities or agencies into marinas at Torquay, Brixham and Queen Anne's Battery, Plymouth, operated and managed by Marina Developments Ltd; and whether copies of any such reports can be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: I asked my officials to consult Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council. They inform me that no health and safety inspections, independent of Marina Developments Ltd, have been conducted at Brixham Marina, Torquay Marina, or Queen Anne's Battery Marina.

Greater London Car Charging Proposals

Viscount Astor: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the Mayor of London's car charging proposals for London will improve traffic flow in Greater London.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: This is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London.

Traffic Light Timings

Viscount Astor: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the changing by the Mayor of London of the sequence of traffic lights in London is consistent with the Government's transport policy.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: This is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London. Guidance is issued to practitioners but the responsbility for the decision to install traffic signals, their design, including the selection of timings, and maintenance is solely a matter for the traffic authority.

Cleaner Fuels

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether on environmental grounds biofuels are as satisfactory as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG), and whether they deserve the same rebate of duty.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The duty incentives set for road fuel gases are aimed predominantly at improvements in local air quality where cleaner fuels have a key role to play. The reduced rate of duty for biodiesel, which will take effect from Royal Assent of this year's Finance Bill, contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A direct comparison between the fuels is therefore not appropriate.